HOUSTON — When the five men in black hit the main stage outside last Saturday at White Oak Music Hall, it may have appeared as an ordinary metal concert.
It may have looked as if yet another festival band was playing the fourth and final day of Hell’s Heroes VII. But upon closer look, even with the recognizable star power coming into focus at that moment with each individual’s credentials morphing into the formation of a modern-day supergroup, the significance of the show about to unfold was not lost upon the masses.
Because there on stage, for the first time in four decades, was one of the pioneers of early San Antonio heavy metal. With four-fifths original or nearly original members fronted by the only vocalist appropriate to carry on the legacy of — not replace — the band’s late voice, S.A. Slayer had risen from the ashes.
Guitarist Bob Catlin, bassist Don Van Stavern and drummer Dave McClain — all there during the group’s formation in 1982 — were joined by 1983 guitarist Ron Jarzombek and South Texas Music Walk of Fame and Texas Music Hall of Fame vocalist Jason McMaster for a 45-minute concert 40 years in the making.
After opening with the title track to 1983 EP Prepare to Die, the band didn’t need a 40-year absence to be reminded of the perils of technical difficulties when Catlin’s guitar amps didn’t cooperate during second song “To Ride the Demon Out.”
McMaster utilized the time to tell the audience that initial talks of S.A. Slayer’s reunion involved the other members asking, “What’s Jason doing? Give Jason a call” when searching for the ideal complement to vocalist Steve Cooper, who died in 2006.
Cooper, who had replaced original vocalist Chris Cronk in 1982, also made his mark on S.A. Slayer’s lone full-length album Go For the Throat, which was recorded in 1984 but not released until four years later, well after the group had disbanded.
But of course, along the way came the famous Slayer vs. Slayer show on Nov. 30, 1984, at The Villa Fontana in San Antonio.
Touring in support of their Haunting the Chapel EP from 1983, the eventual Big 4 of thrash Slayer came to the Alamo City to play a gig with the Slayer that was only well-known to San Antonio locals and that, eventually, added S.A. to its name to avoid confusion among the two bands. That Villa Fontana show included the likes of Syrus and Militia, and those on hand to witness the Hell’s Heroes reunion included vocalist Mike Soliz of the latter.
And for those wondering how and why a band with S.A. in its name has thus far failed to announce a San Antonio date for its reunion ahead of Houston and next month’s scheduled gig at the Keep It True festival in Germany, take solace: conversations were spearheaded backstage by Helstar vocalist James Rivera, tossing around with various band members the idea of a Texas and European swing that would involve Helstar, S.A. Slayer and Militia.
Stay tuned.
In the meantime, the long-awaited return delivered the goods with a 10-song set (see setlist in 63-photo gallery). Watch ATM’s footage of four of those tunes below.
Jarzombek and McMaster have been leading the reunion charge as of late, having resurrected their progressive metal trio Watchtower in September 2023 (ATM coverage here).
Not to be outdone was McClain, the Sacred Reich drummer known for his tenure in Machine Head, who would pull double duty by taking the inside stage 90 minutes after S.A. Slayer’s performance to drum for original Danzig guitarist John Christ’s solo set (coverage forthcoming).
But nobody may have worked harder during the past week than Van Stavern. The Riot bassist kicked off Hell’s Heroes with his main band during Wednesday’s pre-party, headlined with Riot during its 50th anniversary celebration Thursday at Come And Take It Live in Austin, supported Saxon at the Tobin Center for his hometown show Friday (coverage here), then made the 3-hour drive back to Houston for Hells’ finale.
Time will tell whether the aforementioned trio of South Texas stalwarts will bring it in sports-huddle style and collectively take to the road in the Alamo City and beyond. One thing’s for certain: they can’t afford to wait another 40 years to make it happen.
So if you weren’t at Hell’s Heroes to enjoy and witness history, can’t afford to make it to Germany and won’t stomach the patience to wait for a local return, have no fear. Alamo True Metal just brought it to you here.
